Mineral separators



April 28, 1959 c. E. BATTERSON MINERAL SEPARATORS I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 26, 1957 v v k v i,

I 'INVENTOR E Bmferson ATTORNEY Car/ I i Mam;-

April 28, 1959 c. EfiBATTER SON Q 3 MINERAL SEPARATORS Filed Se t. 26,1957 v 4'She'ets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR (02/ Bafferson ATTORNEY .April 28, 1959 c. BATTERSON 8 1 IMINERAL SEPARATORS V v Filed Sept. 26, 1957- Y 1 n 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q 7'INVENTOR BY Qbws a v ATTORNEY United States Patent MINERAL SEPARATORSCarl E. Batterson, St. Paul, Minn.

Application September 26, 1957, Serial No. 686,518

14 Claims. (Cl. 210-322) This invention relates to an improvement inmineral separators and deals particularly with an apparatus for removingsolid material from liquid or air containing a solid material. Moreparticularly, the separator is particularly useful in determining thecharacter of mineral being removed from a drill hole during a testdrilling operation.

Three methods of testing for minerals removed from drill holes are mostcommonly used. The first is a core drilling arrangement in which themineral being drilled is forced into the hollow end portion of the drilland is retained therein. After the drilling has progressed apredetermined distance the drill is removed from the hole, the core isremoved, and the hollow drill rod is returned to the hole to drillanother core of material. The method involves a great deal of time andlabor to remove these cores every 8 to feet. The method is also limitedto materials such as rock or solid material. The method is useless inmaterials such as muds, clays or silica. The second method usuallyinvolves continually forcing the material being drilled through thehollow drill rod by means of fluid such as water. The material removedfrom the drill opening is directed into a suitable settling tank inwhich the water is allowed to drain oft so that the mineral may beinspected or tested. This method is more commonly used when drilling insands, muds or clays but is also used in rock drilling.

A third method is commonly used when a large water supply is notavailable. Air is used to force the material up and through the hollowdrill steel. The air and drill cuttings are directed into a dustcollector where it is partially separated.

The present invention dilfers from the latter procedures by directingthe liquid and minerals or air and minerals removed from the drill holeto a mineral separator which almost instantaneously separates thematerial from the water and deposits it in a transparent container whereit may be constantly visibly noted.

When the air drill system is used in conjunction with the mineralseparator, the air is introduced from the drilling machine and into asuitable cone shaped tank. The particles of material in the air flow aresaturated upon contact with the water contained in the suitable tank.The water in the separator remains in a closed circuit by dischargingthe outlet into the suitable tank where it is then pumped back into theseparator through a coupling attached to the inlet of the separator.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a seriesof concentric conical baflles between which the liquid containing themineral is forced. As the liquid changes direction between the variousbaffles, the

mineral is separated from the water and is collected at Means isprovided for t "ice taining a transparent bag into which the mineralsare dropped. When the bag is filled it can be removed and maintained fortest purposes. The bags may be marked to indicate the minerals which arecollected from various elevations in the drill hole, the mineralsstratifying within the bag.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of amineral separator including a series of concentric cones between whichliquid containing mineral is forced and in introducing the liquidbearing the mineral into the outermost of the cones in a manner toprovide a swirling action which assists in the separating operation.Alternate cones are provided with open lower ends so that the liquid maypass upwardly through the small diameter end of the cone to fiow betweenthe next pair of conical baffies. The other cones are provided withopenings near the upper extremity thereof through which the water andmineral may flow to pass between the next pair of baffles. Theseremaining cones are normally closed at their lower ends with areleasable closure plug. By retracting the plugs, all of the cones maybe simultaneously opened to permit the mineral to drain into thereceptacle.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the mineral separator showingthe general construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus showing thearrangement of parts within the separator.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, the position of the sectionbeing indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the mineral receptacle,the position of the section being indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail view of a modified form of construction.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the flow diagram when the particlesare entrained in air.

The mineral separator is indicated in general by the letter A and isshown as enclosed in a generally octagonal housing 10 which is supportedby a pair of oppositely disposed tapered legs 11. The lower ends of thetapered legs 11 are connected by a cross brace 12 having a flat uppersurface. Laterally extending arms 13 project from the lower ends of thelegs 11 on the plane of the cross member 12, these arms 13 together withthe cross member 12 forming an H-shaped supporting base. A nipple orsleeve 14 is welded or otherwise secured to the upper surface of eacharm 13 near its outer extremity. Legs 15 are slidably supported in thesleeves 14, each leg including a vertical shank 16 which is slidable inthe sleeve 14 and a floor engaging flange 17 at the lower end of theshank. Holes are drilled through the arms 13 in alignment with theapertures of the sleeves 14 so that the legs may be slidably supported.Hand operated set screws 19 extend radially through the sleeves 14 tohold the shanks 16 of the legs 15 in an adjusted position. Thisarrangement is provided due to the fact that the separator must besupported on a substantially horizontal plane to function mosteffectively.

As is indicated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, a bottom panel 20forms a bottom closure for the enclosure 10. An outer conical wall 21 isprovided with an externally threaded nipple 22 at its lower end and thecone is provided with a cylindrical sleeve like extension 23 at itsupper end. An inlet pipe 24 is supported by the enclosure 10 to extenddownwardly through the wall of the enclosure 10 and through the sleeveextension 23 of the cone 21 to overlie the inclined surface of the cone.The

- upper end of the inlet member 24 is externally threaded as indicatedat 25 to accommodate one end of a flexible hose. The lower end of theinlet indicated at 26 is bent at its extremity so as to cause a swirlingmotion of the liquid entering the separator. As may be seen from Figure3 of the drawings, the water forced through the bent end 26 of the inlet24 will cause the water to swirl in a counterclockwise direction asviewed in this figure. Th unthreaded portion of the inlet pipe 24 whichprojects through the housing wall is enclosed in an outwardly projectinghousing portion 27.

A second cone 29 is arranged within the outer cone 21 and is in spacedrelation thereto. The cone 29 also im cludes a cylindrical sleeve-likeextension 35). The lower end of the cone 29 is cut off to provide arelatively small diameter opening 28. Liquid forced between the cones.231- and 29 may pass downwardly between these cones and upwardlythrough the opening 28.

A third cone 31 having a cylindrical top extension 32 is supportedwithin the cone 29 and in spaced relation thereto. The cone 31 isprovided with a cylindrical nipple 33 at its lower extremity. The nipple33 is of materially smaller diameter than the opening 3% so as toprovide a space between the cones 29 and .31.

Additional concentric cones 35, 36, 37, .39, 40 and 41 are mounted inspaced relation to one another to provide fluid passages thercbetween.These cones are provided with cylindrical extensions 42, 43, 44, 45, 46and 47 respectively at their upper ends. Preferably, the cones as wellas the cylindrical extensions terminate on a substautially common planeat their upper extremities.

The manner in which the various cones are supported is perhaps bestindicated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawngS. The outer cone 21 isconnected at its upper edge to an inturned flange 4-9 at the top of theenclosure 10. The top of the cylindrical cone extension 23 is connectedto the flange 49 about a peripheral bead 50. The var ious cones withinthe outermost cone 21 are held in properly spaced relation by angularlyshaped spacers 51 which extend between the outermost cone 21 and thenext adjacent cone 29 and by narrower spacers 52 extending between thecylindrical extensions of the remaining cones. The spacers 51 and 52 arespot welded or soldered to the cone extensions which they contact so asto form a solid construction.

A central outlet chamber 53 is supported inwardly of the innermost coneextension 47 and includes a tapered bottom portion 54 terminating in anopen lower end 55. A vertical pipe or sleeve 56 extends through thecenter .05 the chamber bottom 55 and the upper end of this sleeve 56 issupported by a nipple 57 secured to a channcl member 59 bridging the topof the outlet chamber 53. The pipe 56 is designed to slidably support avalve rod 60, the purpose of which will be described.

The lower end of the cone 31 has been described as having a nipple 33attached thereto. Alternate of the cones described are provided withsimilar nipples. In other words, the cones 36, 39 and 41 are providedwith nipples 61, 62, and 63 respectively. The lower ends of these conesand the juncture between the cones and the nipples forms a seat for acorresponding valve plug. Valve plugs 64;, 65, 66 and 67 are mountedupon the valve rod 160 and are vertically movable therewith. These valveplugs are shown in elevated position in Figure 2 of the drawings butnormally these plugs would be seated against the lower ends of the cones31, 36, 39 and 41 to perform a bottom closure for these cones. Anadditional plug 69 is mounted upon the valve rod .60 and this plus isdesigned. to seat. against the lower end of the outer cone 2!. at i sjuncture with the nipple 2.2. This valve 69 is normally ele ated abovethe seat While he emain ing valves are properly located so that all ofthem seat simultaneously. The valve rod 60 is moved vertically by me nsof a h n le 70 at he upp end of the alve IQd- The Plugs 64, 65, 66 and67 are resilient, and are at such size that by urging the. valve roddownwardly,

assures these valves will enter the nipples 33, 61, 62 and 63,respectively and still remain closed when the valve 69 is closed.

With reference to Figure 3 of the drawings, the outer surface of each ofthe cylindrical cone extensions is provided with a nipple 71 braced orotherwise secured thereto to extend radially, each nipple communicatingwith an opening through the cone extension. An outlet pipe 72 extendsthrough the aligned sleeves 71 and into the outlet chamber 53. The otherend of the outlet pipe 71 is connected by an elbow 73 to a smallgenerally hexagonal enclosure 74 on the exterior of the housing 10. Theelbow 73 directs the fluid to a funnel 75 within the enclosure 74, thefunnel 75 having a hose connection 76 at its lower end. This hoseconnection may provide a means of connecting the outlet of the separatorto the drilling apparatus. In other words, during the operan of theapparatus fluid is bypassed from the drilling apparatus through theseparator and then back to the drilling apparatus so as to maintain aclosed circuit.

A resilient gasket 77 is provided with an integral sleeve 79 whichencircles the nipple 22 at the lower end of the outermost cone 21. Thisgasket 77 includes an upwardly curved flange 80 at its lower end, theflange 80 present ing a convex undersurface. In actual practice, thegasket 77 is formed by inverting a rubber sink or toilet plunger. Thegasket is held in place by a coupling 81 which pro jccts downwardly fromthe nipple 22 and is threaded thereto.

A generally semi-circular strip 82 is mounted centrally of the crossmember 12, this arrangement being best illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 ofthe drawings. A plastic tube 83 extends-from the cross member 12 to thegasket 77 and. is properly located at its lower end by the socketforming strip 82. As is indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the tube83 is longitudinally slit throughout its length as indicated by thenumeral 84. The tube is normally held from expansion by a pair ofcircular steel coil springs 85 and 86. The lower of these springs 86 encircles the lower end of the plastic tube 83 while the other spring v85encircles the tube near its upper end.

The plastic tube 83 is preferably transparent so that the interior maybe seen. A bag 87 having a closed lower end 89 fits within the tube 83and the lower end of the bag rests upon the cross member 12. The bag 87is s0mewhat longer than the tube 83 and the upper end of the bag isfolded down to overlie the exterior of the tube as indicated at 90. Thisdownfolded end 90 is encircled by the spring 85.

Having described the construction of the apparatus, the operationthereof is substantially as follows: The coupling 25 at the inlet end ofthe apparatus is connected to the drill rig to receive the variousminerals from the drill hole which are entrained in water. The waterenters the inlet pipe 24 and is urged under pressure in a directiongenerally tangent to the cone 29 so as to cause a swirling action of theliquid and water. When this is taking place, the valve rod 60 and thevarious valves mounted thereupon with the exception of the bottom valve69 are in lowered or closed position so that the liquid must flow in atortuous path downwardly within the outermost cone, upwardly within thenext adjoining cone 2,9 and between the cones 29 and 31 until it reachesthe level of the series of angularly spaced apertures 91 in thecylindrical extension 32 of the cone 31. Similar angularly spacedapertures 91 are provided in the cyliu drical extensions 43. 45 and 47.A second series of angw larly spaced apertures, -92 extend through allof the cylin drical extensions which have been described." Theseapertures 92 are merely overflow apertures which permit the liquid tospill from one area to the other in the event of a sudden surge ofliquid into the separator due to surging of the drill pump or any otherreason. Due to the swirling action of the water entering the outer conefrom the inlet. much at the mineral in the liquid will drain directlyinto the bag 87, providing a virtually immediate indication of theminerals being encountered.

After passing through the apertures 91 of the cone extension 32, theliquid passes downwardly between the cones 31 and 35 and then upwardlybetween the cones 35 and 36 to spill through the angularly spacedapertures 91 in the cylindrical extension 43. The liquid then flowsdownwardly between the cones 36 and 37 and upwardly between the cones 37and 39 to spill through the apertures 91 in the cylindrical extension45. The fluid then flows downwardly between the cones 39 and 40 andupwardly between the cones 40 and 41 to pass through the apertures 91 inthe cylindrical extension 47. The fluid then flows downwardly betweenthe cones 41 and 54 and up through the open lower end of the outletchamber 53 which is connected to the outlet tube 72. The fluid thenflows through the elbow 73 and the funnel 75 to the outlet coupling 76which is connected to a return fluid line.

As the fluid swirls between the various cones the heavy particles ofmineral tend to separate from the water partly by centrifugal action andpartly by the quick changes of direction at the lower ends of thevarious cones. As a result, the mineral collects over the various valves64 through 67 where the fluid is required to reverse direction.- After apredetermined period of time, the valve rod 60 is lifted by engagementwith the handle 70. This permits the mineral collected adjoining each ofthe valves to drain downwardly into the bag 87. The mineral is flusheddownwardly through the various nipples at the lower end of the valvecones by the fluid which overlies this mineral deposit and all of themineral is permitted to drain by gravity into the bag. Obviously, thebag 87 receives liquid as well as the mineral, but the mineral drains tothe bottom of the liquid to form a layer of mineral which is readilyvisible through the transparent tube 83 and the transparent bag 87.

The separator described has been found extremely effective and particlesof minerals have been separated from liquids even where the specificgravity of the mineral is but slightly greater than that ofjwater. Muchof the swirling action takes place within the outermost cone and thenext adjacent cone but the liquid passing through the various passages91 continues to swirl to some extent due to the fact that the'openingsare large enough to permit the liquid to' continue movement in a certaindirection.

When the bag 87 is filled, the bag and its plastic tube or sleeve 83 aresimultaneously removed by tilting the tube sufficiently to permit it topass beneath the coupling 81. This is possible due to the resilient andflexible nature of the gasket 77. When the tube and bag have beenremoved, the springs 85 and 86 are removed from the tube allowing thissplit tube to expand sufliciently to facilitate the removal of the bag.The bag is sealed at the top, properly labeled, and either retained forthe purpose of record or directed to additional testing operation.

The various minerals through which the drill is operating are usuallyreadily visible to the naked eye. When the mineral has stratified inlayers in the bag, one layer may be extremely black indicating thepresence of one mineral while the next adjacent layer may be an entirelydifferent color such as red, yellow, or intermediate colors. If the holeis being drilled to detect the presence of a certain mineral, the testswill determine visibility when this mineral is being drilled if themineral is distinctive in appearance. When a layer containing thismineral is reached, frequent tests may be made until the lower level ofthe layer is reached at which time other minerals will be readilyvisible. As a result, under most conditions of operation a visibleindication may be obtained in an extremely short period of time withoutthe necessity of filtering occasional samples of material to separatethe mineral from liquid in order to determine the nature of the materialbeing drilled.

The fact that the lower valve 69 is normally open will naturally permitby far the greatest share of the minerals to drain into the bag orreceptacle. Thus, a continuous visible-indication is provided of thematerial being encountered. The various minerals which are collected incertain of the cones above the plugs 64 through 67 will be somewhat of amixture of the various materials and accordingly with this arrangementit is desirable to empty the valves at very frequent intervals so as tomaintain the various stratas intact in the container.

In place of the manually operable-valve system described, these valvesmay be arranged to function automatically. In Figure 5 of the drawings amodified form of construction is illustrated which in many respects issuperior to that shown in Figure 2. In order to simplify the descriptionthe various cones shown in Figure 5 and connected parts have been giventhe same identifying numerals as were used in Figure 2. The valve rodand various valves have been given different identifying numerals asthey are not similar to the structures previously described.

In Figure 5 of the drawings is substituted for the valve rod 60previously described. A valve plug 96 is mounted on therod 95 near thelower end thereof. This plug 96 is normally suspended above the nipple22 but may be lowered by downward movement of the rod 95 to close thebottom end of the outer cone 21 to cut off the operation during the timethe bag is being changed.

Float balls 97, 99, 100 and 101 are slidably supported on the valve rod95 and may freely slide on the rod. During operation of the separator,the buoyancy of these float balls holds them in sealing relation againstthe lower ends of the nipples 33, 61, 62 and 63 respectively. Thus thelower ends of alternate cones are normally closed when the apparatus isin operation.

When suflicient mineral is deposited above any of the float balls, theweight of this mineral will cause the float ball to drop sufliciently topermit the mineral to drain downwardly into the next alternate cone.Thus, at relatively frequent intervals. all of the various cones areemptied of mineral, performing the same action as though the valves weremanually opened at frequent intervals in the previously describedconstruction. The automatic structure has the obvious advantage ofmaintaining the various minerals at their proper position in thereceptacle.

Figure 6 shows the flow diagrams employed when the apparatus is usedwith mineral particles entrained in air. The air, with the particlesentrained, are introduced into a chamber 105 through an inlet line 106,A pump 107 discharges these particles, mixed with water, through theoutlet line 109 to the inlet pipe 24 of the separator A. The outletconnection 76 is connected to a return line 110 to the chamber 105. Theliquid in the closed system carries the particles to the separator A,and removes them in the manner described.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my Improvement in Mineral Separators,and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, Idesire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scopeof the following claims without depart-- ing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

1. A mineral separator for separating minerals from fluid in which theyare entrained, the separator including an outer frusto-conical wall anda series of concentric frusto-conical walls supported on a substantiallyvertical axis within the outer wall, said walls being of graduallydiminishing size and supported in spaced relation with the smalldiameter ends thereof lowermost, said outer wall and every second wallof said spaced walls comprising a first series of walls and includingvalve means normally closing the lower ends of all but the lowermostthereof, the remaining walls forming a second series of walls and havingopen lower ends, the spaces on either side of the walls of said firstseries being in communication at the I upper ends of these walls, aninlet communicating with the space between the outermost wall and thenext adjoining wall near the upper end thereof and an outletcommunicating with the space within the innermost wall, and meansadjoining the lower end of the outer Wall for receiving minerals andliquid from within said first series of walls when said valves areopened.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and in which said inlet isconstructed to direct the fluid and entrained minerals angularly withinsaid outer wall to impart a swirling motion to the liquid containedtherein.

3. The structure described in claim 1 and including means connectingsaid valves for operation in unison.

4. The structure described in claim 1 and including a valve rodconnecting all of said valves and projecting from said frusto-conicalwalls axially thereof by means of which said valves may besimultaneously operated.

- 5; The construction described in claim 1 and in which at least thesecond series of walls includes cylindrical top extensions extendingabove the level of communication between the spaces on opposite sides ofthe walls of the first series.

.6. The structure described in claim 1 and in which the walls includecylindrical extensions at their upper ends, the cylindrical extensionson the Walls of said first series having angularly spaced aperturestherethrough forming the communication between the spaces on oppositesides of these walls.

7. The construction described in claim 1 and including cylindricalextensions on each of said walls, the Walls of said first series havingangularly spaced apertures therethrough forming the communicationbetween the spaces on opposite sides of these walls, all of saidcylindrical extensions with the exception of that on the outer wallhaving a second series of angularly spaced apertures therethroughsubstantially above the level of the first named apertures.

8. The construction described in claim 1 and in which the means forreceiving mineral comprises a bag in sealed relation to the lower end ofthe outer wall.

9. The construction described in claim 8 and in which the bag isconstructed of transparent material.

10. The construction described in claim 1 and in which the means forreceiving mineral comprises a tubular sup- 'port and a flexible bagwithin said support.

11. The structure described in claim 1 and in which the means forreceiving minerals includes a transparent longitudinally split tube, aflexible bag forming a lining within said tube, and means for normallyholding said split tube from expansion.

12. A mineral separator for separating minerals from fluid in which theyare entrained, the separator including an outer frusto-conical wall anda series of concentric frusto-conical walls supported on a substantiallyvertical axis within the outer wall, said walls being of graduallydiminishing size and supported in spaced relation with the smalldiameters thereof lowermost, said outer wall and every second wall ofsaid spaced walls comprising a first series of walls, the remainingwalls forming a second series of walls and having open lower ends, thespaces on either side of the walls of the first series being incommunication at the upper ends of these walls, an inlet communicatingwith the space between the outermost wall and the next adjoining wall,and an outlet com- Inunicating with the space within the innermost wall,and means connected to the lower end of the outer wall for receivingminerals, a valve rod extending vertically through said walls axiallythereof and including a valve movable into engagement with the lower endof the outer walls to close this opening, and a series of valves on saidrod movable into and out of engagement with the lower end of saidalternate walls to close these lower ends, said series of valves beingnormally closed When said separator is in operation and the first namedvalve being normally open during operation.

13. The construction described in claim 12 and in which the valves ofsaid series are movable with said valve rod for actuation thereby.

14. The construction described in claim 12 and in which said valves ofsaid series comprise ball floats held in raised position by theirbuoyancy when said separator is in operation and filled with liquid, theweight of minerals above said ball floats acting to counteract thebuoyancy of the balls when sutficient of the mineral is present.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,262,738 Beardslee Apr. 16, 1918 1,495,869 Noriega May 27, 19241,890,206 Andrews Dec. 6, 1932 1,908,279 Baylis May 9, 1933 2,757,859Holland Aug. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,990 Great Britain Oct. 14, 1887

